The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-11-11


mother he sas 'horrihly concsitsd,
had required taking down q peg or
two" SO in turn for all his kind At
tentiOns and.pretty little attempts at
love-making. naughty Joechaied and
leased him, until he gnGwed at his
tawny mnstache. and ayawed thai.
il was totally impossible to under
stand her.
Mrs. Lyttelton had made up her
mind to give q cosy little dinner party
at the manor house. She was q
languid woman, and objected to
much in the way Of exertion, but late
ly it had become evident to. her that
Lord Herbert Mandeville's attentions
ed than hitherto, and she felt that
something must be done by her to
bring affairs to a crisis. The dear
girl could not be persuaded to look at
the matter seriously, but her mother
was quite conscious OF the TACT that it
would be q very good thing for them
both If Joe could be brought to accept
his lordshIp's heart and fortune, as
soon as they were laid at her feet.
And this tribute to Joe's many
charms was not long IN being paid.
1t happened that the very day be.
fore the dinner.party. when Mrs. Lyt-
telton was alone in her Doudoirabout
the time OF afternoon tea, Lord Her
Der Vaudeville vas announced. Joe
was out riding, but for once his lord.
ship seemed rather relieved than 9TH
erwise to hear it, and before he took
his leave he had impaired his hearts
secret to Mrs. Lyttelton. Hetold her
frankly that he was too much afraid
OF a refusal to risk speaking himselfto
Miss Lyttelton, but he hoped that
her mother would be his friend in this
matter and plead his cause for him.
When he had gone Mrs. Lyteelton
sank back in her low wicker.work
chair and reviewed the position,
which she felt was by no means an
easy one. She hated the RESPONSE
bility OF having to make up her mind
for herself, and was almost disposed
to quarrel with his lordship for
thurst,ng the necessity upon her, for
we'll she knew that as soon as the
subject was introduced to Joe
the whole affair would be treated as
an excellent joke. What was she to
do? There wae no nj to whom she
could turn in her dilemma, unless
why, yes, to be sure! Why had not
this idea presented itself to her soon.
,er? se Us.
She could. OF course. appeal to Mr..
Dering and ask his assistance in bring
ing Joe to her senses. This dear girl
always seemed disposed to approveof
Mr.. Behring'S opinion, and had been
known on more than one occasion to
sit corrected when he had quietly con.
tradicteI some assertion others. Mrs.
iLytteltop had already sent him acard
for her select dinner party, and he had
accepted the invitation; but now she
dispatched a note to him, begging him
to come to her on the following even
ing an hour earlier than the other
guests, as she was in great anxiety and
wished to avail herself OF his kind ad-
vice and assistance.
She felt she could rely upon his
ing, and she was not disappointed in
him. The clock in her boudoir had
just chimed z when Mr.. Dering was
announced.
Mrs. Lyttelton rose languidly to
meet him, feeling what an untold ad-
vantage 1t was to have q man like
this young clergyman to whom she
could turn in her p%erplexity. She
told him all herstory, with an earnest
ness that was almost childish in it's
simplicity-how dear Joe was always
sweet and good in every thing except
the matter OF her own love affairs.
She telt, she said that it would be best
to tell her as soon as possible OF Lord
Mandeville's proposal, but had put it
off until the following day in the hope
that Mr.. Dering would kindly consent
to be present at the ordeal, and say a
word in eason for his lordship.
Dick Dering listened gravely. hardly
speaking q word, until all the partic-
nlars of the case had been FULLY ex-
planned to HIM. He knew Mrs. Lyt-
teton we'll, and understood her bet
ter than most people, pitying her in
ertness and really feelingtor her anxiety
on behalf Of her daughter. What the
performance OF this duty would be to
him, he did not for a moment pause
to consider, and alter a few minutes
OF silent elaboration he had made up
his mind. When he expressed himself
willing to help her to the best OF his
ability thro' her difficulty, the poor
lady's overweight feeling gave way,
and she burst into tears.
Their interview had lasted nearly
three-quarters OF an hour, and Mr..
Dering rose at once feeling that his host.
ess wishto be alonefor few minutesbe-
foreit would be necessaryfor her to re-
ceive herguests. She thanked him with
a languid smile, and he LETT her with a
few words OF sympathy and encour-
agement to the effect that everything
was SURF to come right in time.
But for him things had gone so far
wrong that there seemed not the re-
hottest chance OF their coming right
again.
In the hall he found that the first
guest had already arrived. Lord Her.
bert Vaudeville had Invested himself
of his fur,lined coat, and WIS warming
his a%ristocratic hands at the great
pine.log fire. The two men had just
saluted each other, and were specMat-
ing on the prospect of agood on
the morrow, when down the stairs
came q lovely apparition in a trailing
robe of ivory satin, edged with Mech
lin lace.
1t WINS Joe, OF course.
She was intent upon settling to her
satisfaction the last button.hole
of her long gloves, and her straight
brows were drawn into a little quicker
of'anxiety the operation. Lord
Herbert gazed at her in openmouthed
admiration, and try as he would Dick
Dering could not bring himself to turn
away his eyes from that vision OF love
illness with the crown OF ruddy golden
hair.
After a minute or two she deigned to
notice them, giving her hand and a
gracious bow to each, but for Lord
Herbert Vaudeville was reserved a
smile for which. in his heart, Dick Der
ing knew he would have given a whole
years income.
Those of the guests who amused
themselves by watching Joe that even
ing ave that they never saw her so
brilliantor so beautiful. She was TAX
en- in to dinner by Lord Herbert, and
thro'out the entire evening he never
1 1okk Lou esln Oh, co~- ~. e.1u.ka